Pierre Vervloesem
Encyclopedia
Pierre Vervloesem is a Belgian
avant-garde
guitar player
and producer, and has been described as Belgium's Frank Zappa
.
at the invitation of Michel Mast. During that collaboration, he appeared on the band's albums: Slow-Up (1991), Killed by Charity (1994), Eggs and Ashes (1995), and The Land of the Giant Dwarfs and the live swan song Fired (both 1996). Since then, he has been a musical partner of Peter Vermeersch
in many musical expeditions, both as a performer and as a producer, for example in A Group and the theatre production Weg (by Josse De Pauw
). Together Vervloesem and Vermeersch produced the first CD by Antwerp rock group dEUS.
Vervloesem has also released several solo CDs where he experiments with unusual instruments (e.g. shaking a crate of empty beer bottles as percussion) and unfamiliar sounds to create what are essentially quite simple songs. One of Vervloessem's main influences is revealed by a song on the 1994 release Home Made, consisting of one minute of silence in memory of Frank Zappa. But tellingly, the same album also contains a cover of John Barry's
composition Ski chase, from the soundtrack of the James Bond
film On her Majesty's Secret Service
. In 2002, Vervloesem would release an entire album of John Barry covers.
, Fred Frith
, Zappa, Nels Cline
, Joe Satriani
, and Steve Vai
.
Belgium
Belgium , officially the Kingdom of Belgium, is a federal state in Western Europe. It is a founding member of the European Union and hosts the EU's headquarters, and those of several other major international organisations such as NATO.Belgium is also a member of, or affiliated to, many...
avant-garde
Avant-garde
Avant-garde means "advance guard" or "vanguard". The adjective form is used in English to refer to people or works that are experimental or innovative, particularly with respect to art, culture, and politics....
guitar player
Guitarist
A guitarist is a musician who plays the guitar. Guitarists may play a variety of instruments such as classical guitars, acoustic guitars, electric guitars, and bass guitars. Some guitarists accompany themselves on the guitar while singing.- Versatility :The guitarist controls an extremely...
and producer, and has been described as Belgium's Frank Zappa
Frank Zappa
Frank Vincent Zappa was an American composer, singer-songwriter, electric guitarist, record producer and film director. In a career spanning more than 30 years, Zappa wrote rock, jazz, orchestral and musique concrète works. He also directed feature-length films and music videos, and designed...
.
Career
After playing in a handful of experimental rock bands in the early 1990s, Vervloesem joined avant-garde band X-Legged SallyX-Legged Sally
X-Legged Sally is a Belgian avant-garde rock/jazz-band founded in 1988 by composer Peter Vermeersch, and disbanded in 1997. They were one of the first bands from Belgium to combine a set of very different musical styles , becoming a starting point for the Belgian indie music scene that developed...
at the invitation of Michel Mast. During that collaboration, he appeared on the band's albums: Slow-Up (1991), Killed by Charity (1994), Eggs and Ashes (1995), and The Land of the Giant Dwarfs and the live swan song Fired (both 1996). Since then, he has been a musical partner of Peter Vermeersch
Peter Vermeersch
Peter Vermeersch is a Belgian composer, clarinet player and producer.He is a main character in several Belgian bands such as X-Legged Sally, A Group and the Flat Earth Society...
in many musical expeditions, both as a performer and as a producer, for example in A Group and the theatre production Weg (by Josse De Pauw
Josse De Pauw
Josse De Pauw , is a versatile Belgian actor, film director, dramatist, author and columnist. He is married to modern dance performer Fumio Ikeda.-Theatre:...
). Together Vervloesem and Vermeersch produced the first CD by Antwerp rock group dEUS.
Vervloesem has also released several solo CDs where he experiments with unusual instruments (e.g. shaking a crate of empty beer bottles as percussion) and unfamiliar sounds to create what are essentially quite simple songs. One of Vervloessem's main influences is revealed by a song on the 1994 release Home Made, consisting of one minute of silence in memory of Frank Zappa. But tellingly, the same album also contains a cover of John Barry's
John Barry (composer)
John Barry Prendergast, OBE was an English conductor and composer of film music. He is best known for composing the soundtracks for 12 of the James Bond films between 1962 and 1987...
composition Ski chase, from the soundtrack of the James Bond
James Bond
James Bond, code name 007, is a fictional character created in 1953 by writer Ian Fleming, who featured him in twelve novels and two short story collections. There have been a six other authors who wrote authorised Bond novels or novelizations after Fleming's death in 1964: Kingsley Amis,...
film On her Majesty's Secret Service
On Her Majesty's Secret Service (film)
On Her Majesty's Secret Service is the sixth spy film in the James Bond series, based on the 1963 novel of the same name by Ian Fleming. Following the decision of Sean Connery to retire from the role after You Only Live Twice, Eon Productions selected an unknown actor and model, George Lazenby...
. In 2002, Vervloesem would release an entire album of John Barry covers.
Playing style
Vervloesem's guitar playing style has been associated with that of: Nick DidkovskyNick Didkovsky
Nick Didkovsky is a composer, guitarist, computer music programmer, and leader of the band Doctor Nerve. He is a former student of Christian Wolff, Pauline Oliveros and Gerald Shapiro....
, Fred Frith
Fred Frith
Fred Frith is an English multi-instrumentalist, composer and improvisor.Probably best known for his guitar work, Frith first came to attention as one of the founding members of the English avant-rock group Henry Cow. Frith was also a member of Art Bears, Massacre and Skeleton Crew...
, Zappa, Nels Cline
Nels Cline
Nels Cline is an American guitarist and composer, currently the lead guitarist of alternative rock band Wilco. David Carr of the New York Times describes Cline as "one of the best guitarists in any genre."-Career:...
, Joe Satriani
Joe Satriani
Joseph "Joe" Satriani is an American instrumental rock guitarist and multi-instrumentalist, with multiple Grammy Award nominations...
, and Steve Vai
Steve Vai
Steven Siro "Steve" Vai is a three time Grammy Award-winning American guitarist, songwriter and producer who has sold over 15 million albums. Steve Vai is widely known as a flamboyant guitar virtuoso....
.
Discography
- Home Made (1994)
- Fiasco (1996)
- Chef d'Oeuvre (1999)
- John Litton Baraï & Pierre Vervloesem - Zala Zala (2000)
- ...plays John Barry (2002)
- Grosso Modo (2002)
- Rude (2005)
- Not Even Close (2008)